Determination of Optimum Conditions for Enzymatic Debranching of Cassava Starch and Synthesis of Resistant Starch Type III using Central Composite Rotatable Design

Cassava starch was debranched by treatment with isoamylase and pullulanase and the yield of resistant starch type III (RS III) optimized with respect to starch solids concentration (7.5‐15%, w/v), incubation time (8‐24 h) and enzyme concentration using central composite rotatable design. Higher concentrations of pullulanase (10‐35 U/g starch) compared to isoamylase (30–90 mU/g starch) were required to give a similar degree of starch hydrolysis within the experimental domain. A clear debranching end‐point was identifiable by following the reducing value, blue value and β‐hydrolysis limit of cassava starches debranched using isoamylase. It was difficult to define a debranching endpoint of pullulanase treatment by these parameters due to contaminating α‐ D ‐(1→4) activity. The yield of RS III was significantly higher in isoamylolysates and increased steadily with increasing degree of hydrolysis to peak at 57.3%. Purification of the debranched material further increased the RS III yield to 64.1%. Prolonged (24 h) hydrolysis of cassava starch with high concentration of pullulanase (35 U/g) gave lower RS III contents in the purified (34.2%) and unpurified (36.2%) hydrolysates compared to 49.5 and 62.4%, respectively, at moderate pullulanase concentration (22.5 U/g) and incubation time (16 h).